Grimes predicts turnout of 30 percent or less

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's top election official expects less than 30 percent of registered voters will vote in Tuesday's primary elections.

Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes said history shows officials should expect at least 32 percent of registered voters to vote on Tuesday. But voters have requested fewer absentee ballots this year, most likely because there are no local option questions on the ballot.

More than 39,000 people voted absentee in 2010. So far this year, more than 21,000 people have voted absentee or had ballots mailed to them.

Grimes predicted a low turnout despite Kentucky having more people registered to vote than ever before. Kentucky added 125,000 new voters before the April 21 registration deadline for Tuesday's primary. More than half of the state's 3.1 million registered voters are women.